Spokeswoman Lt-Col Ronel Otto said the books were dumped in an open veld on Monday morning and were in a good condition.

"The between 5,000 to 6,000 books range from grade zero to grade nine for various subjects," Otto said.

"Police along with the education department will launch investigations in order to determine where the books came from and where they were supposed to go."

Some grades in Limpopo received textbooks seven months after the school year started, while others were still waiting. Earlier in the year, lobby group Section27 obtained a court order for textbooks to be delivered to Limpopo by June 15.

In a meeting between Section27 and the department on June 21, a revised date of June 27 was set. The textbooks were finally delivered on the revised date.

On Monday, President Jacob Zuma received a preliminary report from a presidential task team that investigated the late delivery of textbooks in Limpopo.

Zuma is studying the report and urged the task team to continue and conclude its work. He said he would pronounce on the report once the matter has been concluded.

Otto said some of the books were still in their boxes and all the books were taken to the police station for safekeeping.

No criminal case had been opened, she said.